{"id":1871,"date":"2026-08-24T15:28:37","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T14:28:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.1625ip.co.uk\/about-us\/news-and-projects\/\/"},"modified":"2026-08-24T15:30:06","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T14:30:06","slug":"mulugetas-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.1625ip.co.uk\/fr\/about-us\/news-and-projects\/mulugetas-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Mulugeta’s Story"},"content":{"rendered":"
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From Survival to Helping Others<\/h2>\n \n

Mulugeta’s Story<\/h3> \n
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When Mulugeta arrived in the UK in 2022, he was just 15 years old.<\/p>\n

He had fled cultural conflict in East Africa after both of his parents were killed. His journey to safety took him across Libya,\u00a0Italy\u00a0and France,\u00a0and involved multiple traumatic experiences along the way.<\/p>\n

When he finally reached the UK, he was placed alone in an adult hotel for two weeks. He\u00a0couldn\u2019t\u00a0speak English. He\u00a0didn\u2019t\u00a0know anyone. He had no idea what would happen next.<\/p>\n

Soon after, he was picked up by South Gloucestershire Social Services and placed in supported accommodation in Birmingham. It was there that Mulugeta began to rebuild.<\/p>\n

Building a New Life\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Birmingham, Mulugeta embraced every opportunity available to him. He attended college to complete his ESOL Entry Level 1\u20133 qualifications and joined a local athletics club to pursue his passion for running.<\/p>\n

His strong Christian faith also became an anchor. Birmingham had a large community from his own cultural background, giving him connection and belonging during a time of huge change.<\/p>\n

In 2024, Mulugeta was referred to our Reboot service. When he later moved into his own property in South Gloucestershire, he officially signed up for support.<\/p>\n

The move\u00a0wasn\u2019t\u00a0easy.<\/p>\n

He had built a life in Birmingham and In Bristol, he knew no one. But what stood out from the beginning was his determination. Mulugeta spoke clearly about his values: independence, community, and one day supporting other young people who had experienced similar journeys.<\/p>\n

Balancing Independence and Connection\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Together, we worked on practical next steps. \u00a0Mulugeta secured a Christmas job working night shifts at Amazon, while studying Level 1 Functional Skills in\u00a0Maths\u00a0and English. The work was physically demanding, and balancing nights with study was tough,\u00a0but he made it work.\u00a0During this time, he began feeling isolated again. He struggled to find a community from his cultural background in Bristol and missed the sense of belonging he had in Birmingham.\u00a0He started attending CYN Welcome Wednesdays, where he became a regular and began volunteering,\u00a0something he continues today. Through these experiences, and through conversations with his social worker and Reboot coach, something began to shift.<\/p>\n

He decided he wanted to go to university and train as a Social Worker.\u00a0In early 2025, after attending a job fair together, Mulugeta secured landscaping work and began working full time. While this supported his independence, it left little room for study or connection. Over the summer, we had many values-based conversations about what truly mattered to him.<\/p>\n

He\u00a0realised\u00a0that while financial independence was important, so were education,\u00a0community\u00a0and his long-term ambition to support others.\u00a0With advocacy support, he returned to college to complete his Functional Skills qualifications and secured night shift work in a supermarket warehouse to balance study and income.\u00a0He has since found a small worship group that meets fortnightly, giving him renewed connection to his cultural community.<\/p>\n

Looking Ahead: A Future in Social Work\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Recently, we worked together on his UCAS application for a Foundation course in Social Work. In his personal statement, Mulugeta wrote:<\/p>\n

\u201cGrowing up as a refugee and later as a care leaver has shaped not only who I am, but also the ambitions I hold for my future. I arrived in the UK as a child, alone and unsure of what my life would become. Those early experiences taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of community.\u00a0They also helped me understand how powerful it can be when someone chooses to support you at a moment when you feel you have no one.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

Throughout my journey, I have been inspired by the people who stepped into my life when I needed\u00a0guidance\u00a0the\u00a0most,social\u00a0workers, a PA and a coach who saw potential in me even when I struggled to see it myself. Their belief in me has been a driving force behind my desire to pursue higher education. They showed me what it means to help others with patience, empathy, and consistency, and I hope to carry those qualities forward in my own career.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

My experiences have given me a strong motivation to support others who may be facing challenges similar to my own.\u00a0I want to help people not only because I understand what it feels like to be vulnerable, but because I know how transformative the right support can be. Whether it is through advocacy, community work, or professional practice, I am committed to contributing to a system that empowers young people and gives them the tools to build a better future.\u201d\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/div>\n \n

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